Norm Dicks

Dishonorable Mention

Rep. Norm Dicks didn’t hesitate to use his powerful committee assignment as a source of big gifts for his son.

As the chairman of an Appropriations subcommittee, Rep. Norm Dicks increased federal funding to the Puget Sound Partnership, a nonprofit group where his son, David Dicks, was executive director, from $20 million to $50 million.

The Environmental Protection Agency later investigated questionable spending by the Partnership and forced it to return more than $120,000.

Eighteen-term member of Congress representing Washington’s sixth district

Used his position as an Appropriations Committee subcommittee chairman to steer funds to a nonprofit group run by his son